Belize Bank warns A.C.B. to stay out of U.H.S. deal
As far as public discourse goes, the debate over government’s unlimited guarantee of a private loan to Universal Health Services has been dominated by an aggressive coalition of Opposition politicians, an angry Senator, and civil society groups attacking a hapless government, all the while egged on by some dissident Cabinet ministers and a press corps with an insatiable appetite for P.U.P. blood. Well today a heretofore silent but central player in the drama was heard from: The Belize Bank. That’s right, the financial institution that just happens to be on the hook for thirty-three million dollars in principal and accumulated interest.
In a carefully crafted letter that leaves little room for ambiguity, Belize Bank chairman Philip Johnson wrote president of the Association of Concerned Belizeans, David Vasquez, essentially telling him and his colleagues to keep their noses out of a matter that is none of their business … or else face some costly consequences. The A.C.B. has announced its intention to sue the government to prevent payment of any money to the bank under the loan guarantee and filing is set for Thursday morning. The Belize Bank letter is apparently meant to give the group’s members, since joined by the N.T.U.C.B., Medical Union, Medical Association and Senator Godwin Hulse, some second thoughts.
And according to Johnson, there’s plenty to think about. “You are hereby put on notice that in the event that you do decide to commence legal proceedings or otherwise take action involving this arrangement, the Bank will to the extent that it is prejudiced by those proceedings or action, pursue the A.C.B. and its individual members directly for all consequential loss which it suffers.”
And in case anyone missed the point, the letter continues, “The bank strongly suggests that you bring this letter to the immediate attention of all your members, so that they are fully aware of the risks involved. In addition, the Bank suggests that the A.C.B. and its individual members inform their respective insurers, sponsors, and lenders of their current stance, so that these persons and organisations are also on notice of the associated risk exposure. The bank will not stand back and allow an ad hoc group of individuals hiding behind the guise of some flimsy and superficial organisation with obvious overriding political motivations, to interfere with a commercial matter of this magnitude that does not concern them.”
The words, believe to be crafted by in house legal bulldog Philip Osborne, are about as strong as threatening letters get. But according to bank chairman Johnson, speaking this afternoon to News Five, the communication was just taking care of business. “It was not a threat,” said Johnson, “We are just putting the consequences on record.”
For its part, the A.C.B. is unlikely to be deterred. This evening members were meeting with attorney Lois Young who is expected to file the suit tomorrow. Without predicting how the court will rule, the notion that a questionable government financial commitment cannot be legally challenged by taxpayers seems out of step with both the rule of law, as well as reality.
